Asahiyama Zoo
A worthwhile Furano day trip for animal observation, with distinctive swimming exhibits and summer orangutan climbing. Allow for hillside walking; the penguin walk is a winter attraction, not a summer offering. [S5][S6][S7][S8][S9]
Photos
2009-05-16 · 欅 (Keyaki) · CC BY-SA 3.0
File:Asahiyama zoo entrance.jpg · Local photo
2009-08-03 · Douglas Perkins · CC BY 2.0
File:Asahiyama.seal.jpg · Local photo
Location map
Asahiyama Zoo venue location
Use the map links below if the interactive map is unavailable.
43.34193, 142.391785Asahiyama Zoo venue location
43.76805114, 142.4797823
Where to eat
Asahiyama Zoo East Gate, Asahikawa · Restaurant
Kamuy Cikap — Asahiyama Zoo East Gate Restaurant
The convenient East Gate sit-down lunch choice, with Asahikawa ramen and a restaurant-exclusive curry.
Order: Asahikawa curry with seasonal accompaniments, or soy-sauce ramen topped with local jingisukan lamb; the adjacent takeaway counter also lists Taisetsu Ji-Beer.
Restaurant seating ends at 15:00; the summer takeaway counter lists beer until 16:00, but seated or draft afternoon beer service is not established.
Hours: Restaurant 11:00–15:00, last orders 14:30; published summer takeaway hours 11:00–16:00. Follows zoo seasons, with possible separate restaurant closures.
On site · On site at East Gate, second floor; uphill walking depends on your current exhibit.
The simplest sit-down lunch without a town drive; finish ordering by 14:30 rather than counting on a late restaurant lunch.
Central Asahikawa, near Asahikawa Station · Brewery taproom
Taisetsu Ji-Beer Hall
A genuine brewery restaurant in a historic brick warehouse, best for a beer-accompanied lunch or an early dinner in town.
Order: House pilsner with lamb jingisukan at lunch; from 17:00 consider the beer sampler with Hokkaido cheeses or Asahikawa Sasa-pork sausages. Furano wine is also listed by the glass.
Lunch beer is possible until 14:00, but the hall closes 14:00–17:00; leisurely beer and snacks fit early dinner, not an all-afternoon session.
Hours: 11:30–14:00, last orders 13:45; 17:00–22:00, last orders 21:30. Usually Sundays closed; the published 2026 calendar exempts July–August and certain holiday Sundays.
Booking: Reservations available; the operator currently specifies telephone-only reservations for July and August.
Back in town · Central Asahikawa, about 25–35 min drive from the zoo; not next door.
The genuine beer-and-food destination after the zoo if you stay in Asahikawa until 17:00; it is closed for the middle of the afternoon.
Nagayama, Asahikawa · Sake tasting
Otokoyama Sake Park
A short sake-tasting and museum stop with a cafe stand, rather than a sit-down sake bar.
Order: Small samples of Otokoyama sake, including whatever brewery-limited or junmai-daiginjo choices are offered; the cafe stand separately serves brewing-water coffee and seasonal shaved ice.
Paid 15 ml sake samples run until 16:30, with coin sales ending 16:20; a seated sake lounge or full-glass drinking service is not established.
Hours: 09:00–17:00; tasting and cafe finish 16:30, tasting-coin sales 16:20. Closed December 31–January 3.
Booking: No reservation required; park and museum admission are free.
Nearby · About 15 min drive from the zoo, as published by Otokoyama.
Use for a short afternoon sake-tasting and museum detour, not as a substitute for a leisurely sake bar.
Why go
Watch penguins swim above a 360-degree underwater tunnel, seals move through a cylindrical Marine Way tank, and polar bears use swimming and terrestrial enclosures. Summer also brings the opportunity to observe orangutans crossing between their housing and a 17-meter tower. These are opportunities to observe behavior, not guaranteed performances. [S6][S7][S8][S9]
Time to allow
The zoo suggests approximately three hours, longer with breaks on its hillside. Plan four to five hours for unhurried exhibits, lunch and queues, excluding driving. [S5]
Drive from Furano Station
75-90 min
Route options & directionsWhen to arrive
Aim to be ready for the published 09:30 opening; arriving slightly earlier is for parking and queuing, not early admission. [S1]
Timing and Weather Recommendations
Late June
Recommended for a flexible weekday visit. The zoo's appeal does not depend on lavender flowering; published 2027 summer opening covers this period. [S1]
July
The same core visit remains appropriate. Recommend allowing additional road and queue buffers and choosing a comfortable forecast rather than pursuing a particular calendar date.
Early August
Normal daytime visiting applies during the first week. The municipal calendar explicitly publishes August 10-16, 2027 extended opening, 09:30-21:00, last admission 20:00; this is not an extrapolation from 2026 and may fall after your stay. [S1]
Recommendation: a weekday with moderate temperatures and little heavy rain anywhere in your stay. No particular animal activity or weather is guaranteed.
Weather alternatives
Light rain can work with sheltered penguin/seal viewing and rest breaks, but this is not an entirely indoor destination. Free loan umbrellas are first-come. Move the visit to another day for persistent heavy rain or uncomfortable heat. [S4][S6][S7]
A practical visit sequence
- Choose a parking gate before navigating, bring everything needed from the car, and check the day's keeper-guide notices on entry. Re-entry is normally prohibited. [S3][S4][S5]
- Prioritize the penguin tunnel, seal Marine Way and polar-bear viewing areas, adjusting the order to queues. [S6][S7][S9]
- Continue toward the orangutan exhibit for summer climbing opportunities; avoid treating tower crossings as scheduled shows. [S8]
- Take a food or rest break, then complete a manageable circuit. The zoo recommends counterclockwise touring from any gate; animals may leave display before closing. [S5]
Opening hours & practicalities
- Hours and season
- Published 2027 calendar: April 29-October 15, 09:30-17:15, last admission 16:00; October 16-November 3 closes at 16:30. August 10-16 has the separately published evening extension. Recheck before visiting. [S1]
- Costs
- Current ordinary adult admission is JPY 1,000, but the announced rate from April 29, 2027 is JPY 1,400. The zoo annual passport becomes JPY 1,600, worth considering if planning a second visit. Junior-high-school age and younger remain free; no traveler age is assumed. [S2]
- Parking and access
- Current municipal parking is free: approximately 200 spaces at Main Gate and 300 at East Gate. Main Gate is the endpoint of the zoo's published Furano approach. Private lots around Main/West gates include free and paid parking, currently capped at JPY 500/day. East Gate has an internal shuttle connection; neither parking choice makes the hillside zoo flat. [S3][S4][S5]
- Facilities and accessibility
- Food outlets, rest areas, drinking fountains and numerous accessible toilets are listed, with specific toilet exceptions. Summer wheelchair/electric-cart loans and Main/East mobility-priority parking are first-come, not reservable. A free East Gate-to-spider-monkey/capybara-house shuttle runs approximately every ten minutes, weather permitting. Confirm boarding accessibility and suitable gradients with staff. [S4]
Make the most of the visit
- Choose a weekday opening-time arrival and leave the afternoon flexible.
- Use the day's keeper-guide board rather than assuming fixed feeding times. [S4]
- Plan the return to your parked car, including hills; confirm shuttle operation before relying on it. [S4][S5]
- Carry a refillable bottle and take shaded or sheltered breaks; drinking fountains are available. [S4]
- Bring a picnic if preferred: outside food is permitted in rest areas and outdoors, avoiding an exit for lunch. [S5]
When to skip
Skip if captive-animal attractions do not appeal, or if you want a short outing with little walking rather than a substantial day trip.
Safety & considerate travel
Possible pairings
- Furano Marche
Before you go
- Published opening calendar, any exceptional closures, and August evening-opening arrangements.
- Animal-display notices and the day's keeper-guide schedule.
- Parking availability, shuttle operation, mobility equipment and suitable accessible routes.
- Ticket prices and annual-pass terms before purchase.
Additional notes
- The municipal calendar includes 2027 normal and special opening hours.
- Penguin walking requires accumulated snow, typically late December to mid-March, and is explicitly excluded from this summer plan. [S5][S6]
- Exact gate elevations, route gradients and wheelchair boarding arrangements were not established. Animal visibility and 2027 daily programming remain variable.
Public sources
- S1 — Events and opening calendar
https://www.city.asahikawa.hokkaido.jp/asahiyamazoo/event/event.html - S2 — Admission price revision from summer 2027
https://www.city.asahikawa.hokkaido.jp/asahiyamazoo/news-blog/osirase/d084291.html - S3 — Access and parking
https://www.city.asahikawa.hokkaido.jp/asahiyamazoo/generalinformation/d053767.html - S4 — Visitor facilities, services and rules
https://www.city.asahikawa.hokkaido.jp/asahiyamazoo/generalinformation/d053773.html - S5 — Frequently asked questions
https://www.city.asahikawa.hokkaido.jp/asahiyamazoo/generalinformation/d075901.html - S6 — Penguin House
https://www.city.asahikawa.hokkaido.jp/asahiyamazoo/facilityinformation/d055082.html - S7 — Seal House
https://www.city.asahikawa.hokkaido.jp/asahiyamazoo/facilityinformation/d055081.html - S8 — Orangutan House
https://www.city.asahikawa.hokkaido.jp/asahiyamazoo/facilityinformation/d055084.html - S9 — Polar Bear House
https://www.city.asahikawa.hokkaido.jp/asahiyamazoo/facilityinformation/p008551.html